The Palestinians will next month renew a bid to upgrade their status at the United Nations, their foreign minister said on Saturday, a move which could strengthen their statehood claims after talks with Israel stalled.

Palestinians are listed as a UN observer "entity" with no voting rights. They will ask to be made a non-member observer state at the UN General Assembly on September 27, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Such status, akin to the Vatican's, would be an indirect recognition of their claims on statehood in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. It would allow them to join a number of UN agencies, as well as the International Criminal Court.

The Palestinians say Israeli settlement-building on occupied West Bank land has stymied prospects for a bilateral statehood deal. Disagreement over the issue led to negotiations stalling in 2010.

Malki said President Mahmoud Abbas would make the status request in a speech and the Palestinians would then lobby for support among UN member states, many of which are sympathetic to the campaign and regard the West Bank settlements as illegal.

"When we are sure we have won absolute support from the largest possible number of states, we will be ready to request that the General Assembly vote on such a draft resolution," Malki said.

A simple majority vote in the 193-member General Assembly would be enough to bestow non-member observer status, bypassing the Security Council - where the United States, Israel's ally, has a veto.

"We are looking forward to getting 180 votes," Malki said. "We will become a non-member (observer) state in 2012."

Security Council

Once that was achieved, he said, the Palestinians would pursue full UN membership. However that would require approval by the Security Council - and Washington.

"This an ongoing struggle that will not stop and which we will continue to the end," Malki said.

A similar campaign by the Palestinians last year proved short-lived amid opposition from Israel and the United States, which said a Palestinian state should be founded in agreement with Israel.

Israel has annexed East Jerusalem as its capital - a move not recognised abroad - and says it would annex swathes of West Bank settlements under any eventual peace deal. It unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

Israeli officials had no immediate response to Malki's announcement. Previously, Israel has accused Abbas's government of trying to evade negotiations which would entail territorial compromise and that he reassert control over Gaza, which he lost in 2007 to Hamas Islamists.

Malki's remarks appeared to signal the Palestinians might put off the General Assembly vote at the United Nations until after the United States presidential election in November, in the run-up to which President Barack Obama would be mindful of his pro-Israel constituency.

Geoffrey Anisman, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Israel, reiterated the Obama administration's call on Palestinians to pursue direct negotiations with Israel.

"We believe that one-sided actions at the UN will not produce progress or secure statehood for the Palestinians, and our message to the Palestinians remains the same," he said.

Palestinians have made a freeze on Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem a condition for returning to peace talks. Israel cites biblical and historical ties to the areas and says the issue of settlements should be decided through negotiations.

It is a nonsensical argument, precisely because Israel **isn't** the
sovereign power, it is the occupying power. So the PLO needs to
negotiate for "peace". Sure, no question. And for the
"end of occupation". Fine. But they don't need to negotiate
"statehood". Not with Israel. Not with the USA. Not. With.
Anybody.

the PA and the Israeli Government must engage in direct talks to make
compromises/agreements on the core issues. It's procrastination on both
sides that has created an intransigency in coming up with a settlement
for both the Israelis and Palestinians. It's curious that the PA peace
proposal a number of months ago has not been rejected by the
Netanyahu-led coalition, which means there's merit to continue dialogue.

...the only result is that the settlements grew and grew and grew. This
makes direct negotiations with Israel seem like a suckers bet for the
Palestinians, don't you agree? In any case, it is not Israel's
decisions to grant the Palestinians a state. Israel itself has
legitimacy issues.

How can you negotiate with a criminal entity??? The Jews are stealing
palestinian land, water and all natural resources. They destroy their
infrastructure, kill and imprison thousands of them. Is this a basis for
uncondítional negotiations??? The world is fed up with Israel.
Israel can only behave in this way as long as the jewish lobby assure
the US support. But don´t be too optimistic that this will not be
for ever.

...negotiate with someone who says "what's mine is mine; what's
yours is negotiable?" Pal leadership has tried direct negotiations
in the past and it never yields any results. It just never works -
Israeli intransigence persists because they know nobody will tell them
anything.

Phase 1 requires a complete stop of all Settlement construction. After
that, Phase 2 proceeds to direct negotiations for core issues and final
status. This poses 2 possible explanations for Yonatan's position:
Either Israel has lied to itself and it's citizens regarding these
obligations, or Yonatan is well aware of the obligations and is lying to
everyone else in an attempt to misinform and fool others.

has it ever occurred to you that the only purpose of the pals is their
being a cheap proxy band of terrorists who only manage to lose their own
kids and their own pride each time they try and do battle with Israel?
The pals have no sympathy and no wins.

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